Alternatives for Benzodiazepines. Phenibut?

[GeisterxFahrer]

I have been taking benzodiazepines for about 6 years now. I recently weaned off on my own. I could go back and get a prescription for an emergency but after going through what I did, I am looking to try some alternatives first. Ive read that Phenibut can be decent for anxiety. I have also heard that it can be very addictive and that you are supposed to only take it for like 2 or 3 days, then match that with a wash out period. I don't know how I feel about that. I did however, just purchase some Valerian extract (smells like ASS). I got it in capsules as well as a liquid. Because of the taste of the liquid though, i bought some 00 capsules and i actually put the drops into the capsules and then ingest it, is that weird? Anyway, I also bought some Skullcap (Scutellaria) extract in both capsules and liquid. I took one capsule alongside a capsule of Valerian extract and it seemed to do... alright. I also purchased Gotu Kola extract (also in liquid form) because I read that it can be used to help decrease anxiety as well. I have not tried it though because I also read that it has diuretic effects. I know that GABA (as an oral supplement) is essentially useless; as it does not readily cross the good ol BBB, so I did not even bother buying it. I was thinking about purchasing L-Glutamine since it is a precursor to GABA itself, and should therefore create more GABA in the brain. I do not know much about it though. I have also done a little reading on another 'nootropic' drug called Piracetam. Again, I do not know much about it or it's efficacy in regards to anxiety. Lastly, I have done a little research on Picamilon (nicotinoyl-γ-Aminobutyric acid) and understand it to be a mixture of niacin and GABA where the niacin attached allows Picamilon to cross the BBB whereas GABA without niacin does not. Does anyone have any advice on the subject? I already take Niacinamide to help with anxiety but I would like a benzo replacement essentially. Something I can take on an as needed basis that is actually strong enough to stop a panic attack. For now, I am leaning towards phenibut. Despite all the negative things I have heard about it, I have heard that it does in fact work. However, I have heard varying reports of how long it takes to kick in. As I mentioned about, I need something to replace benzos for short term relief of panic. Does anyone have any more information about any of these? First hand stories would be good as well.


Sceletium tortuosum (Kanna)

 

[laCster]

lyrica > phenibut IMO

 

[GeisterxFahrer]

lyrica > phenibut IMO

Lyrica is a brand name prescription medication though. Whereas I just ordered 100 grams of Phenibut without a script. Also I have been on Lyrica in the past, I know its a GABA analogue, but it did not seem to do anything in regards to my anxiety or panic. It just made me a bottomless pit

 

[Allein]

OP you don't really say why you were taking the benzos or why you stopped taking them.

What are you seeking out of the replacement, if you have anxiety issues you might want to try other none chemical routes to deal with them rather than replacing one drug with another.

I have been suffering more and more with anxiety and depression over the last couple of years and have certainly been drawn to alcohol and more recently benzos for some relief.

But at the same time I'm seeking medical help in the form of ADs and counseling.

Best Wishes

 

[crestfallen]

If your looking for anxiety relief w/o the addiction/dependency issues with benzos, try Buspar. You need a rx for it but it doesn't have any side effects like benzos do(including w/d's). I hear nothing but good things about it.

 

[GeisterxFahrer]

I tried Buspar a looong time ago back in 2005. The put me on Buspar and Zoloft to try to get a handle on my anxiety and depression (respectively). I was on if for about 3 and a half months and I did not notice any difference in anxiety levels. I even continued to stay on it during the first month of benzodiazepine therapy. But nothing worked except Benzos, and even then, only 2mg Xanax actually worked. My new mixture of things seems to work rather well and there are no signs of benzo withdrawal. I bought a mg scale a and some size 0 capsules and I measure out 300mg of phenibut, 100mg valerian root extract, and about 100mg of Skullcap and I put that 500mg or so into one capsule. I filled about 20 capsules today all with the sameish amount of ingredients. I took two capsules at first sign of panic or anxiety and it took it away almost as fast as Xanax did. I was kind of surprised TBH. I know phenibut binds more to the GABAb receptors and the GHB receptors whereas benzos go for the BZN sites and GABAa receptors. But the mix I created still seems sufficient. I am thinking about ordering some Phenazepam from this RC vendor I go through a lot. Ive read a lot of baaad things about phenazepam though, mostly related to its relatively long (approx. 60 hours) halflife. So I could see this benzo building up in the body over the matter of 2 to 3 days causing an infamous benzo blackout. But Now that I have a scale that goes to .000, and I have tested it for accuracy, I can be very confident that if I do buy the phenaz., that I could weigh out proper dosages very effectively. The dose amount seems to be what got everyone into trouble (at least in the stories I read). I wish the site had O-Desmethyltramdol though. I would def. order that too. But we all know that has nothing to do with benzos.

 

[BIGsherm7272]

Propanolol has worked good for me in treating panic attacks, as an alternative to benzos. It is an rx medication but is easily attainable through a doctor.